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MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Newspaper Articles

This guide will help you cite sources using the MLA Style 9th edition.

Newspapers

For more help, see Tips for Citing Newspaper Articles below, and explainers on how to tell the difference between Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers.

Newspaper Article from a Library Database

Works Cited List Citation

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper [City of Publication if not stated in newspaper title], Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers if given. Database Name.

Note: If you are citing an opinion or editorial piece, add the following at the end of your citation: Op-ed.

Note: If the article pages are not in consecutive order, list the first page number of the article followed by a plus (+) sign.

Examples:

One Author

Lee, Justina. “Crypto Pros are Getting Tired of $79-Billion Dogecoin Joke; Unlike Bitcoin, Supply Isn't Finite.” National Post [Toronto], 8 May 2021, p. FP16. Canadian Major Dailies.

Two Authors

Tait, Carrie, and James Keller. "Spiraling Cases Push Hospitals to the Limit." The Globe and Mail [Toronto], 8 May 2021, p. A6. ABI/INFORM.

Three or More Authors

Thebault, Reis, et al. "Sorrow and Stamina, Defiance and Despair: A Year of the Pandemic in America." Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2021. Gale OneFile News.

In-Text Citation

(Last Name Page Number) 

Note: If the article is only a single page or do not have page numbers, exclude the page number in the in-text citation.

Examples:

(Lee)

(Tait and Keller)

(Thebault et al.)

For more help, see Tips for Citing Newspaper Articles below, and explainers on how to tell the difference between Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers.

Newspaper Article from a Website

Works Cited List Citation

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper [City of Publication if not stated in newspaper title], Day Month Year of Publication, URL.

Note: If you are citing an opinion or editorial piece, add the following at the end of your citation: Op-ed.

Examples:

One Author

Deschamps, Tara. "Companies Offer Vaccinated Customers Freebies and Discounts in Marketing Push." Toronto Star, 9 May 2021, www.thestar.com/business/2021/05/09/companies-offer-vaccinated-customers-freebies-and-discounts-in-marketing-push.html.

Two Authors

Hayley, Austin, and Jack Ewing. "The Tailor, the Florist, the Violin Maker: Improvising to Survive." The New York Times, 10 May 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/business/coronavirus-hamburg-germany-small-businesses.html.

Three or More Authors

Bhattacharya, Jhumpa, et al. “Open Forum: Having Kids is Becoming a White Privilege in California.” San Francisco Chronicle, 10 May 2021, www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/Open-Forum-Having-kids-is-becoming-a-white-16162934.php. Op-ed.

In-Text Citation

(Last Name)

Examples:

(Kieffer)

(Hauck and Hecht)

(Bhattacharya et al.)

For more help, see Tips for Citing Newspaper Articles below, and explainers on how to tell the difference between Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers.

Newspaper Article from a Library Database

Works Cited List Citation

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper [City of Publication if not stated in newspaper title], Day Month Year of Publication, pp. Page Numbers if given. Database Name.

Note: If you are citing an opinion or editorial piece, add the following at the end of your citation: Op-ed.

Note: If the article pages are not in consecutive order, list the first page number of the article followed by a plus (+) sign.

Example:

Kay, Barbara. “'Problematic' Prose; in the Progressive Era, Even Literary Critics Aren't Safe.” National Post [Toronto], 27 Mar. 2021, p. A18.

In-Text Citation

(Last Name Page Number if multi-page article)

Note: If the article is only a single page, exclude the page number in the in-text citation.

Example:

(Kay)

How Can I Tell If It's a Newspaper?

New York City, 09/11/2001, Newspaper Headlines after World Trade Center Attack - Britannica ImageQuest

Not sure whether your article is from a newspaper? Look for these characteristics:

  • Main purpose is to provide readers with a brief account of current events locally, nationally or internationally.
  • Can be published daily, semiweekly or weekly.
  • Articles are usually written by journalists who may or may not have subject expertise.
  • Written for the general public, readers don't need any previous subject knowledge.
  • Little, if any, information about other sources is provided.

Articles may also come from journals or magazines.

How Can I Tell If It's a Magazine?

Woman reading at magazine stand - Britannica ImageQuest

Not sure whether your article is from a magazine? Look for these characteristics:

Popular magazines:

  • Main purpose is to entertain, sell products or promote a viewpoint.
  • Appeal to the general public.
  • Often have many photos and illustrations, as well as many advertisements.
  • Author may or may not have subject expertise.
  • Name and credentials of authors often NOT provided.
  • Articles tend to be short –less than 5 pages
  • Unlikely to have a bibliography or references list

Trade magazines:

  • Main purpose is to update and inform readers on current trends in a specific industry or trade.
  • Audience is members of a specific industry or trade or professors and students in that trade or industry
  • May have photos and numerous advertisements, but still assume that readers understand specific jargon of the profession.
  • Usually published by an association.
  • Authors are professionals working in the specific industry or trade.

Articles may also come from journals or newspapers.

How Can I Tell if it's a Journal?

Journals on a shelf - photo from Flickr by the.Firebottle

Photo from Flickr under Creative Commons license, created by the.Firebottle

Not sure whether your article is from a journal? Look for these characteristics:

  • Main purpose is often to report results of original search
  • Articles usually have a very specific subject focus
  • May see sections such as abtract, discussion, results, and conclusion
  • Author of the article is an expert or specialist in the field and often their credentials are listed
  • Article is intended for students, scientists, researchers and/or professionals instead of the general public
  • Usually includes a References list at the end

Articles may also come from magazines or newspapers.

Tips for Citing Newspaper Articles

Access Date

For all content found on the Web, you must list the date you first viewed the resource. This comes last in a citation.

Authors/Editors

An author can be a person but can also be an organization, or company. These are called group or corporate authors.

City of Newspaper

If the name of the city in which the newspaper is published is not evident from the title of the newspaper then provide the city in square brackets after the title of the newspaper.

E.g., When citing the Toronto Star, it is evident that the newspaper is published in Toronto. However, if citing The Gazette, it is not evident from the title that it is published in Montreal, so include [Montreal] after writing The Gazette.

Database Names

The name of the database will usually apear at the top of the search screen. Note that Elsevier, Gale and EBSCOhost are NOT database names, they are database providers. The name of the database will appear separately.

If you have used the function to search multiple databases at once and therefore do not know the individual database name, enter the name of the database provider (e.g. ProQuest) as the database.

Dates

The format of all dates is: Date Month (shortened) Year. E.g. 5 Sept. 2012.

If no date is listed, write n.d.

Page Numbers

If no page number is listed, write n. pag. in the Works Cited list.

If the entire article is only one page, do not include a page number in the in-text citation.

If the article appears on non-consecutive pages (e.g., the article starts on page 5 then continues on page 12), write the first page number and a plus (+) sign. E.g., 5+

Titles

Capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title. You do not need to capitalize words such as: in, of, or an.

If there is a colon (:) in the title, include what comes after the colon (also known as the subtitle).

         

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